jeudi 13 août 2009

Iraq aims to ban dual citizenship for top officials

AFPWed Aug 12BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq's cabinet has approved a bill to require all top government and security officials to renounce any foreign citizenships they hold or to step down, the government spokesman said on Wednesday.

The bill, which must be approved by parliament, would apply to the president, prime minister, speaker of parliament and their deputies, as well as key ministers and army and police commanders, Dabbagh said in a statement.

The ministers affected are those of the interior, defence, finance, oil and foreign affairs.

"Those that wish to keep their foreign nationality would have to give up their government positions," Dabbagh said.

Many senior positions in Iraq are filled by former exiles who returned to the country from abroad after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.